• by Tanya Gazdik , April 7, 2019

In celebration of Earth Month, JetBlue is inviting consumers to nominate their favorite environmental-focused nonprofit to receive grants. 

One nonprofit will be rewarded with a grand prize grant of $20,000, and three runners-up will each receive a $5,000 grant.

The “GreenUp” campaign aims to highlight the airline’s commitment to local environments. A video explains other actions the airline is taking to be more eco-friendly. 

JetBlue also inviting customers to join the airline in donating to and volunteering with nonprofits working to preserve natural spaces.  Crew members will volunteer with a variety of environmental causes and initiatives throughout the airline’s network, including revitalization projects in Puerto Rico.

When customers nominate charities to receive a grant, they will automatically be entered to have offsets totaling 3.6 million lbs. of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions (1,632 MT) retired in their name and on their behalf. This represents the average American’s lifetime carbon footprint, according to Carbonfund.org Foundation. 

Select winners will also receive a pair of JetBlue travel certificates with carbon offsets, which JetBlue will donate to Carbonfund.org Foundation on the winner’s behalf. Winners will be announced by May 31.

This carbon offset project protects nearly 500,000 acres of Amazon tropical rain forest, mitigates the release of more than 12.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the project lifetime, preserves the habitat, and enhances the lives of rural forest communities.

As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, last year JetBlue made a commitment to assist in reforestation efforts as the final step in its 100x35JetBlue initiative, 100 days and 35 ways, of caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

“A healthy environment is not only important to our customers, it’s critical for our business,” states Icema Gibbs, director of corporate social responsibility, JetBlue. “Earth Month is a great time to remind our customers and crewmembers that it will take a joint effort to preserve our local natural spaces."